9. Bad Timing (1980)
Milena, a young American woman, takes an overdose and is rushed to the hospital. Alex Linden accompanies her - he is an American psychiatrist teaching in Vienna where the action of the film takes place. Flashbacks show their tormented affair. Alex had an obsession with Milena. She was very depressed in a marriage with an older man whom we see her visiting a couple of times in the film. Alex soon grows tired of her heavy drinking, promiscuous lifestyle. He spies on her and tries to control her. This ends disastrously. While they are trying to save Milena, the detectives dig up some dirt about Alan himself which is highly incriminating. Theresa Russell gives a committed and impassioned performance as the self destructive Milena. She is a wonderful actress and brings across the psychological malaise of her character - refusing to be tied down or committed yet desperately and destructively unhappy with her apparent freedom. Milena basically just goes ape for the entire film and is generally a complete mess. Mind you, she has been severely provoked by Alex who does in no way come across as a decent person or somebody worth having a crack up over. Theresa Russell's performance is entirely sympathetic.